New York Attorney General Letitia James on Friday announced her candidacy for Governor of New York. If elected, she would become the first Black female governor in the United States.

“I’m running for Governor of New York because I have the experience, vision, and courage to take on the powerful on behalf of all New Yorkers,” James wrote on her official Twitter handle along with a video, to announce her candidacy. 

The campaign video cited the multiple lawsuits she filed against former President Donald Trump’s administration and an investigation into deaths in New York’s nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recently, James oversaw an investigation into allegations that former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed numerous women. Her bombshell report on the case prompted Cuomo’s resignation after its release.

Cuomo attacked James’ report as inaccurate and biased, denied mistreating women and said he resigned in order to avoid subjecting the state to turmoil.

However, James has dismissed all the charges that her investigation was politically motivated, saying Cuomo should take responsibility for his own conduct.

The 62-year-old is the first woman elected as New York’s attorney general and the first Black person to serve in the role. She’s expected to be a strong challenger against Gov. Kathy Hochul, who had been Cuomo’s lieutenant governor, for the Democratic nomination.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, James made her first run for City Council as a candidate of the liberal Working Families Party. Her path to the nomination will be the observe of Hochuls, trying to win over upstate Democrats who might be less progressive.

Since she became attorney general in 2019, her office has investigated Trump’s business affairs and sued the Republican’s administration dozens of times over federal policies on immigration, the environment and other matters.

With inputs from the Associated Press